AN:
Song is written by lyricist Howard Ashman and composer Alan Menken, Something There, with lyrics slightly changed
8*8
mirror of the light:
When the Vees broadcasted the fasle newsreel on the events of how the Extermination ended. Constantine was the one that talked Elanye down from using a blood magic related spell. Which was new to Corbin at the time he heard. Since he learned how protective his mentor was of his sister and niece. Serenity tried to not ask what the spell entailed when she asked Elanye and Constantine. She got an angry huff from one and the other was left to do most of the explaining. Alastor was worse by encouraging Elanye to through with the spell in his usu,a manner. Offering to even out up Vox for a few hours to see the end result. Vaggie, Wywave, and Zon weren't really bothered by the news of the incident. They all had all agreed at one time about the length they would go. Lucifer was quiet from shock of what Elanye would do. He quickly got over it when he was glad she treasured his daughter.
Then Katie Killjoy wanted to do a televised interview with Charlie on her side of the story. Constantine and Lucifer tried to talk her out of going as best could. Niffty made a sign calling the Vees liars to hold up since she was also welcomed. Elaine and Serenity with Charlie and Niffty went as a means of moral support. Didn't go down like Charlie when they met with one of the Vees. Velvette openly disrespected a fellow Overlord and mocked Elanye beside Charlie. Paid more after to her phone up till the camera turned on and questions flowed. Didn't work in Charlie's favor like she wanted when things got heated for her. Making Serenity ask how the blood magic related spell sounded about now. Got her informed Constantine was quite adamant about her not using THAT spell.
8*8
Elanye: There's something sweet
And almost kind
But he's mean and he cold and refined
But now he's dear,
And so unsure
I wonder if I only one that saw it there before
Constantine: She glanced my way
I thought I saw
And when we are side by side she doesn't shudder like the rest
No it can't be,
I'll just ignore
But the way she looked at me that way I've never seen before.
After 6 years of being together as lovers, a strange habit formed between Constantine and Elanye. When his royal duties and appointments came to an end for him. To the deepest reassess of his library he starts his search for Elanye and her owl. She was always somewhere in the areas of his castle he started allowing her to go, alone. Sometimes she was in his garden or training hall watching the members of the Royal Guard. Rarely using his kitchen since he still didn't have what she needed to cook or bake. ALWAYS in his libraries with her hands to herself exploring his bookshelves. Never pulling a book off the shelf unless he allowed her to do so. She stayed out of his workshop and other private areas of his castle when not with him.
At the moment, he found her sitting on top of a library ladder lost in a newest read she found. Securely sitting with her stocking clad legs curled up in house slippers. Pearl Decor on the Square Neck, High Waist, Above- the- knee length skirt, fitted Long lace Sleeve, Dress. Hoo Hoo and Maverick curled up next to each other. Careful in turning the pages she read over with Hoo Hoo perched right next to her. Comfortably roosting in a relaxed position with eyelids lowered and feathered lay smoothly.
"You seem to have settled in nicely." He watched her.
"Better than fuming over the Veees," She closed the tome, "Thought I take you up on being allowed to look these over."
She was careful in handling the tome she was enjoying to put back in the empty slot, in which it was pulled. Leaning over with a bare hand to comb the area between Hoo Hoo's feathered tufts. Got him to shake his feathers out and open his groggy filled eyes. Wings spread open with the rest of him flexing as he leaned toward her hand. Welcoming the gesture before being told Constantine and Maverick had return. Into the air Hoo Hoo took flight when the sight of his furry friend was seen. Maverick happily started laughing with his tail wagging at the sight of Hoo Hoo. Off Constantine's shoulders he leaped the floor where Hoo Hoo landed. Two happily greeted one mother by nuzzling one another with barks and hoots.
Didn't distract Constantine from taking a secure hold on one of the ladder's sides as he watched Elanye shift. Not wanting the wheels on the bottom to roll as her whole body moved. She began her climb down the narrow steps not wanting to slip like she had a handful of times. She was always caught in Constantine's arms like a bride being carried over the threshold. Which he never complained about each time she landed in his arms. Just kept warning her to be more careful before putting her onto her feet. Resulted in his cravat being grabbed and him pulled into a heavy make out session. Usually ended with her tumbling his apple cravat pin around in her fingers. Cravat untied and shirt collar thoroughly undone to the torso with a bite mark.
"Had fun?" Elanye asked about his day.
"Nothing out of the ordinary or usual." He watched her climb down.
"How is Serenity?" She noticed he came straight here, "Sharing your usual drinks and chit chat."
"Updates on the Overlords with me and current events," He looked her way with a raised eyebrow, "You were missed."
"You seen me mad," Elanye reminds him, " I ...am ready to show her after what Charle saw."
He moved toward her once she was on the floor recalling the swirling cobalt of her eyes and kneaded brow. Slight flare of her notrals and way her lips pressed up against another. Nothing compared to the turret of emotions that flooded their mental link, from back then. Frustration, confusion, and skepticism also formed a tangled and tightly made knot. Angry that matched his own over Vees disrespect of his sister and her victory. How his sister saw her when interactions with the Vees didn't end well.
"But I will learn to.
Making space for her rage
for when it finally escapes
as it will -
a guttural howl
the unravelling
of the twisted, mangled
thread long coiled deep
inside her
I will be right there
loving her." Constantine shared he never saw her any differently.
Right into those calm crystal blues his White irises with thin vertical reddish pupils. He peered into taking up her bare hand with his talons to pull her close. She accepted knowing it had become his way of encouraging her to buck up. A quiet physical cue that he started up whenever she had a moment of uncertainty or lack of confidence.
"I will not doubt, though sorrows fall like rain,
And troubles swarm like bees above a hive,
I will believe the heights for which I strive
Are only reached by anguish and by pain;
And though I groan and writhe beneath my crosses,
I yet shall see through my severest losses,
The greater gain." She admitted her doubts.
He came to cup the side of her face with his other hand in an assuring manner as she slowly smiled. When she squeezed his hand with the same amount of strength he was using. She slowly wove her fingers together with his talons that he knew the doubt was gone. Closing the gap between them in an attempt to capture his lips. Came to a crashing halt when Hoo Hoo and Maverick interrupted the two of them. Owl landed on Constantine's shoulder as a winged fox jumped into between them. Elanye acted quickly and caught Maverick within one of her arms with them splitting apart.
"I will never understand," Constantine ended up getting nuzzled by Hoo hoo, "Why does he act this friendly with me."
"Want him more like Maverick?" She asked him.
"One is enough." Constantine looked at Maverick.
Elanye: New and a welcoming sensation
Who'd have ever thought that this could be?
True that he's no Prince Charming
But there's something in him that I simply could see
Serenity: Well, who'd have thought?
Charlie: Well, bless my soul
Lucifer: Well, who'd have known?
Charlie: Well, who indeed?
Serenity: And who'd have guessed they'd come together on their own?
Charlie: It's so peculiar.
Serenity, Charlie, and Lucifer: We'll wait and see, a few days more
There may be something there that wasn't there before
Lucifer: Perhaps there's something there
That wasn't there before
Mirabelle : (Speaking) What?
Charlie: There may be something there that wasn't there before.
Mirabelle: (speaking) What's there, mama?
Charlie: (speaking) Sh! I'll tell you when you're older.
Constantine reached up to comb his talons through Hoo Hoo's feathers in a stroking motion. Which this owl happily welcomed by leaning toward his talons with feathers laxing. Didn't stop them from holding hands since this habit the two started over six years ago. Quiet agreement they never wore gloves around the other, in private. Their mental connection floods with a mixture of contempt and sense of belonging. Maverick and Hoo Hoo always bursting in as the most irregular moments.
"I could talk for hours
About a single moment
Spent with you," Constantine shared how these small moments meant to him.
"And suddenly
You became the best part
Of all my days," She tried to lean toward him. Again.
She got to claim his lips with her own which he always welcomed and returned with his own affections. Separating with a few things from Charlie to give to him among her own. One being a handcrafted invite to the sixth anniversary of the hotel's reopening. Formal calligraphy in silvery black ink to the decorative doodle on a sealed flap. Envelope inside held a folded cardstock Charlie wrote out and drew herself. Holding the same information of when, where, and time of her celebration.
"How are the preparations for the anniversary celebration going?" Constantine found himself asking.
"Coming along," Elanye recalled the memories, "Your sister still gets overwhelmed despite everyone's helping her. Even with Corbin and Mirabelle attending school and trouble with the Vees."
"What is it this time?" Constantine didn't like her news.
"Camera drones." Elanye recalled.
She started laughing at the new game hotel's residents who had started a game taking down the drones. Whoever shot down the most in a week gets a prize granted to them by Wywave. Which intrigued Constantine since he watched this reel through their bond. Outcome of each prize was random according to the winner's want or need.
"Your dad won last week and took me out to tea," She liked the moment, "So I took him to my usual spot where I take Serenity and Charlie. We kindly chatted the day away until it was time to pick up Mirabelle."
"What was discussed?" Constantine asked, recalling his father's way of chatting.
"He brought up how different my taste in gowns was different then your moms," She recalled, "He liked being a grandfather, hotel's progress, his ongoing rivalry with Alastor, and current events."
"He has been trying to bond with my sister's partner and you." Constantine was curious.
"Next time ask him about the sudden interest when Charlie and you have high tea with him," Elanye suggested.
He took to his mind when they retreated to his private quarters, where his private living room was hidden away. One of the curtains was long since drawn open and fresh steam set out. Where wooden for Hoo Hoo sat near a scarlet sofa. Where the owl landed after he flew off Constantine's shoulder. Maverick started to wag his tail when other things Elanye brought caught Constantine's eye.
"I wanted to bring an intent one back with most of the circuits unharmed," She said, "This is the best Corbin could do."
"Brought down in one strike?" Constantine noticed.
"You taught him well," She reminded Constantine, "Ready to take apart and inspect?"
Shared activity of analyzing cctv footage to evidence gathered by Reapers from a case of a broken law.
8*8
Anniversary of the hotel's rebuild wasn't the only thing happening when Charlie happily stared at the calendar. Date when her brother started his relationship with Elanye was also noted. She still remembered how Serenity and her helped him for the first year. Lucifer's advice on the theme of a gift was more useful than how things should end. Nothing compared to the gift Elanye gave Constantine as one of the night's high points. Wrapped in a hand embroidered cloth, One of the earliest texts printed in English. Original 1483 copy of The book of saints, in a weathered condition with some damage. In turn, he waited a few days to give her a restored version of her A Christmas Carol.
Becoming a series of humble gifts spawned over six years also follows the traditional themes. Second year a Hand embroidered eye mask and Hooded Shawl Scarf were exchanged. Both made for cotton fibers or material hand spun by one of the harpies. Third year was when leather made hair ties and gloves were exchanged. Both came from the same skin of a fanged cow from Bloodmarch ranch. Fourth year was when Turkish dates and Black Bat Flower were exchanged. One was privately kept in a candy dish and the other in a vase. Fifth year was wooden Book stand workshop and witch's wheel of the year. Carved by Wywave's hand after he used a special type of wood. Sixth year Homemade, Black Rosewater-flavored Turkish delight and Fan of six needles were exchanged. One was stored away to be eaten later and the other became a lesson in defense. Always made Charlie giddy while Serenity couldn't wait for what was going to be a surprise this year.
"Want to join the pool?" Husk asked Corbin and Hephzibah.
"This an anniversary gift?" Hephzibah had to ask.
"No thanks." Corbin turned him down.
"He knows doesn't he?" Husk asked Hephzibah.
Form of betting system started to take place over the years, that Husk started up after the first year. He covered all the bases from emotional reactions to the outcome of the gift. He included time slots for when the gift would be given to alone or before someone. Almost everyone with the hotel from Lucifer to Angel Dust were in.
"I helped gather the materials," Corbin answered, "Kinda be fixed .. if I do."
"Can I place one?" Mirabelle asked.
"No." Husk and Hephzibah informed her.
"Then I will," Osmodai laid down a few bills, "Usual slots."
"I am in." Wasp joined.
Monte was wanting to know details while Ragnild took a seat right next to Corbin. Noticing he was looking over a copy of the lastest court transcript in his hands. One that had to do with one particular case the sins were in.
"You're quiet today," She asked, "A bit of light reading?"
"Class assignment," Corbin flipped a page, "We're studying and reviewing different cases with mock debates. Professor picked this one with me acting as the defense."
"Repeat performance?" She asked, recalling Elanye's actions.
Way Elanye defended Stolas' actions involving his affair to the thief of his grimoire. Came with her own gathered evidence from her own efforts and Clan of Whispers. Along with emotional explaination on aspects of the hearts. In this strong, fierce and unresilient form of addressing the crowd. While under the judgemental eyes of Morningstars and the sins.
"When do you care about my college life?" He asked her, "I get Monte and Wasp like attending the frat and sorority parties. Osmodai gets a chance to work in student life center and community service. Sloane part- times in the health center."
"Why aren't you a knight or royal Guard?" She asked.
He excused himself from their conversation to act quickly with his stings to catch. Roh and the old rickety step stool he was using to relocate the banner. All fell over when he was trying to follow Charlie's commands to the letter.
"Perfect!" Charlie finally liked how the banner was placed.
"You ok?" Wasp watched the whole thing.
"Invisible net caught me." Roh plucked a string.
He slid off with a step stool in hand with his irises gaining a splash of color and pupils changes. Slowly releasing a breath is swallowing the mouthful of after what happened. Series of events he just went through was filling one. Leaving him to need a moment as he processed the burp.
"That's a 6." Mirabelle ranked it.
"More like a 4.5." Hephzibah picked her up.
Corbon retracted his strings not needing to give Ragnild an answer as he closed the transcript. Not needing to point out to her how hotel life was exciting enough. Daily accidents from washer flooding the laundry room with soap suds. Getting kee kee down from the highest points in the hotel. Bringing in Razzle at night she he fell asleep at the feet of the Dazzle statue. Putting out fires during failed baking and cooking lessons. Picking up after a fight involving a ticked off Lucifer and Alastor. Finishing kitchen duty Angel Dust only half finished on his days off. Putting out the latest piece of flesh a Chewy found out of his mouth. Were of many moments that kept Corbin on his toes with Hephzibah around.
"It's a 5.5 for flare," Corbin joined in, "I am announcing the winners of who killed the most drones."
Everyone who partook this week opened an ear while still carrying on in decorating. Become surprised at results When Elanye was coming from the elevator area.